Champions or chokers?
Reputation of the Stampeders could rest on outcome of Grey Cup against Argos
OTTAWA — Sunday night will go one of two ways for the Calgary Stampeders.
Depending on how it plays out, CFL fans are going to say one of two things about the organization.
Do what’s expected and win the Grey Cup, and the Stampeders will solidify their spot as the dominant CFL team of the last 10 years.
Lose to the Toronto Argonauts, though, and the claws will come out. The haters will be fed more ammunition and — fairly or unfairly — it will become ever harder to shed the ‘choker’ label that’s haunted the Stampeders for years.
One way or another, Sunday’s game will establish a narrative about these Stampeders that is sure to stick.
Head coach Dave Dickenson seems to understand that, though he took time after Saturday’s walkthrough at TD Place to make a case for another way of looking at the organization that employs him.
“One of the things you can say is. the Calgary Stampeders as an organization haven’t won as many championships as other people think (they should have),” Dickenson said.
“But one thing I’m most proud of is that we get to the party.
“We get here year-in and yearout. We get into the party more than anybody else and give ourselves a chance to win a ring. Yeah, I’d like to finish it tomorrow and get that championship, but I’m really proud that the guys put the work and effort in, year-in and year-out.”
On paper, there’s no question the Stampeders should be the favourites heading into the Grey Cup.
They boast the best defence in the league, the most dynamic special teams unit and an experienced offence that has come up big in the season’s most crucial moments.
They lost only one meaningful game all season. Yes, they closed out the regular season with three straight defeats, but those came after the Stamps had already clinched first place in the West Division.
By any reasonable metric, the Stampeders should win. The only explanation for picking the Argos comes down to a ‘gut feeling.’
Well, there’s also the fact that the Stamps were in an almost identical position last year and fell short against the Ottawa Redblacks.
It’s a new year with (some) new players, but the loss in the 2016 Grey Cup is like a spectre looming over everything the Stamps have done this year.
All week, the media has bombarded quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and his teammates with questions about last year.
What lessons did they learn? How are they preparing differently? Is the loss affecting the team’s collective psyche in any way?
The Stamps have patiently answered the questions over and over again.
“Last year was a missed opportunity and something we’ll always want back, but we’re focused now,” said Mitchell. “From Day 1, (Dickenson) in training camp said to use last year as motivation to get ready for this season, but now this is (a new) season.
“It’s a new team, a new locker-room, plenty of new guys on the team. It’s motivation just to do the right thing during the week.”